Politics, n. A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage.

What experience and history teach is this—that nations and governments have never learned anything from history or acted upon any lessons they might have drawn from it.

The poor have sometimes objected to being governed badly; the rich have always objected to being governed at all.

To be turned from one’s course by men’s opinions, by blame, and by misrepresentation shows a man unfit to hold office.

Do that which consists in taking no action, and order will prevail.

If you must take care that your opinions do not differ in the least from those of the person with whom you are talking, you might just as well be alone.

The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure.

Whether for good or evil, it is sadly inevitable that all political leadership requires the artifices of theatrical illusion. In the politics of a democracy, the shortest distance between two points is often a crooked line.

It is a certain sign of a wise government and proceeding, when it can hold men’s hearts by hopes, when it cannot by satisfaction.

The vice presidency isn’t worth a pitcher of warm piss.

Every communist must grasp the truth: “Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.”

An appeal to the reason of the people has never been known to fail in the long run.

There is no method by which men can be both free and equal.